Avid Elixir 3 (lever & caliper sealed unit) - Please Help

broachboy

Morning forumgoers,

I have got an issue with my avid levers and calipers :roll:

They are new items,well lets say 'unused' for the moment as I have attempted to fit them to my mountain bike.

The problem is I cannot get the piston in the caliper to retract, there's not enough space for the disc to fit between the pads ? :shock:

Whats going on ? Is there some sort of method to reduce some pressure in the system and regain some movement to aid installation ?

I thought being a sealed system fitting would somehow be easy ?

broachboy

larkim

Have you tried pushing the pads / pistons back with a suitable implement? Obviously the orange shim needs removing (I'm sure that goes without saying), then the pads should press back further (if needed).

Sorry if this sounds like self evident advice, but I couldn't work out from your post or your image whether this is something you'd ever done before or not!

broachboy

thanks for the reply

Yeah I tried as you said, pushing the pads back - well trying to, they seem to be under immense pressure ?

Even the orange spacer thingy isn't free to move ? Its like someone has pumped the bollox out of the lever onto it.

I removed the front one, but left the rear in situ just in case :?

larkim

It really should push back OK, but obviously with pads in place you might be wary of putting a screwdriver in there as it could damage the nice new pads. I've got one of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-to ... d|202665UK which works well and allows the necessary leverage. Perhaps you're just not pushing hard enough? It's possible I suppose that they are over-filled, but I'd say that's unlikely. Perhaps worth taking out the pads and then using the spare room in between the calipers to get something non-destructive on them (plastic tyre lever or similar)?

broachboy

OK I'll persevere

I'm not worried about damaging the pads at the end of the day they're replaceable, as it stands at the moment I've got money tied up in unusable components

The Rookie

Avid's being overfilled is not at all rare, with the lever above the calliper open the bleed port on the lever and wrap with cloth, push the pads back and then close the bleed port.

Search for 'avid burp'!

broachboy

The Rookie wrote:

Avid's being overfilled is not at all rare, with the lever above the calliper open the bleed port on the lever and wrap with cloth, push the pads back and then close the bleed port.

Search for 'avid burp'!

Haha

Brilliant !!!

Thank you

larkim

I knew someone competent would turn up to answer this properly ;-)

apreading

I find it a little easier to open the port, pull the lever slightly, just enough for a little dribble to come out, screw the port shut then release the lever - being careful not to suck any air in. This is easier because it only requires you to work at one end, but you may need to do it more than once if you dont release enough fluid.

Just dont let too much out, or suck any air in.

JBA

Elixirs are a pain in the 'arris when the weather warms up. The fluid expands and forces the pistons out. A burp is the only way to sort them, but you may have to add a bit of fluid in the winter.

broachboy

Many thanks for all of your replies and help